Picking a Film School: Do Your Homework

TROY, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) -- The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan has been in business for over a decade teaching editing, shooting, writing, everything a filmmaker needs to find a career in the business.

Since the film incentive program began in 2008, there have been a lot of new schools popping up offering an education in film with job placement.

We asked Janet Lockwood with the Michigan Film Office in Lansing whether these jobs are real. She said, "The answer to that question is it depends on where he's taking his training."

Lockwood says buyer beware. If you're paying for an education in film making, you'll need to hear this: "To work on a film of over a million dollars, you need to be a member of a union unless you're a production assistant, which is a great place to start," Lockwood said. "But, if they think they can come out of a school that does not work with unions and has not put something in place and expect to go onto a set and be hired as a grip or a gaffer, all the things unionized, they'll be disappointed."

People involved in the film industry in Michigan would love to have a standard or guidelines for education in film making. Kameron Hinton with MPI said, "We're working toward establishing something that someone could come in and say, 'What are the core competencies that you have?' Our crew base here, we'd love to have that. Right now, it's in process, but it's not there."

Along with approving all the scripts and productions that are applying for our tax incentive program, Lockwood and the film office says they're working hard to create a training standard for our state.

"We plan to put in place a state approved curriculum for this industry. That is, in my opinion, the answer to good training, job, and we're working with the unions, too. That is so important. We are a union state," said Lockwood.

While they set up standards, you want to make sure of a couple of things. Make sure you go to a licensed and accredited school. You also want to make sure you go to a school that has connections and education about the unions.

One more thing, make sure that the school you go to adheres to the core competency standards set up by the Michigan Film Office.

Click here to view the Michigan Film Industry Job Competencies from the film office.

Click here to visit the The Motion Picture Institute.